When the virus goes viral: An impetus to revisit COVID-19 scientific
outrage using Web of Science platform and a recount on the lineage of
pandemics
Abstract
Pandemics are epidemics or disease outbreaks, which rampage across
countries and continents. The ongoing corona virus disease 2019
(COVID-19) has been a full-fledged pandemic for over a year now. With
the death count mounting above two million, COVID-19 has globally
impacted the economy, society, public health and all spheres of human
life. COVID-19 is the third type of coronavirus disease outbreak after
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
This review paper discusses the medical perspectives of COVID-19 along
with a recount on the numerous pandemics that have wreaked havoc in the
past. AIDS which is ongoing, and cholera, influenza and plague have been
recurring pandemics and merciless killers. Even with tremendous
advancement in medical science, new pathogens continue to cause
uncontrollable infections and deaths worldwide. Research in the fields
of medicine, health and social sciences, psychology and so on is soaring
as the world battles with COVID-19. Additionally, scientometric analysis
has been performed using the Web of Science platform, a global citation
database, to project the impact of COVID-19 on research in terms of
scientific publications. As of 04th April 2021, 98,020 scientific works
have been published of which 28 % are from the USA. Medical and health
sciences have been the major focus of research globally, as the world
works tirelessly to develop the ‘right’ vaccine that will make COVID-19
a disease of the distant past.